“Why? It’s not like you could have done anything about it. I had to figure it out on my own. Gio, I’ve been fighting all my life.” Sacha took Gio’s hand and laced their fingers together. “But it wasn’t until I fell in love with you that I realized the war was over. I didn’t have to fight anymore. You’re my home, my safety. There’s nowhere else I would rather be.”
A lump formed in Gio’s throat, his heart squeezing. Sacha rarely allowed himself to be so vulnerable, but when he was, he stole Gio’s breath away every time.
“You’re my home too,” Gio replied softly. He kissed Sacha, savoring the love and comfort radiating from the man he loved. He lost track of how long they lay together, kissing and dozing in and out of sleep. Gio almost fell asleep again when Sacha spoke up.
“How long do you think I have before the Boyfriend Collective is activated?”
Gio held back a smile. “Oh, my sweet Sacha. You’re adorable. Zero minutes is the answer.”
Sacha’s eyes popped open. “What? Why haven’t they descended?”
“Because this isn’t like when you broke your leg. They could have lost you.Icould have lost you.”
“But they didn’t. You didn’t.”
“I know. They’re giving you time to recover in peace, and when the shock has passed and they believe it’s safe to love on you, they’ll descend in full force.”
Sacha’s groan was loud, and Chip popped up to check on Sacha by licking his face all over, making Sacha curse and Gio laugh. Despite Sacha’s grumpy grumblings about dogs sticking their tongues up his nose and their family fussing over him, Gio knew that deep down, Sacha wouldn’t want it any other way.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next day,a steady wave of flowers, baskets, and gifts started to arrive. Gio had expected friends and coworkers to send “Get Well” gifts, but their living room and kitchen quickly resembled a flower shop. It was sweet, but Gio had to turn on the front door motion sensors so his phone would notify him when a delivery person was approaching, allowing him enough time to get to the door before they rang the doorbell and set off the dogs.
With Sacha napping upstairs, Gio decided to catch up on some work in the living room. His phone went off, and he checked the camera—another basket delivery. Standing, he told the dogs to stay and went to the door.
After what happened, King assigned extra security around their property, at least until they found the gunman. Gio didn’t argue. With Sacha recovering, he welcomed the additional protection. The security agents at the driveway entrance checked every delivery person’s credentials, identity, and paperwork. They were asked about weapons, and their K-9 sniffed all the deliveries and vehicles for possible incendiary devices. Gio hated having to go to such lengths, but having almost lost Sacha, he wasn’t taking any chances.
Gio opened the door, smiling brightly at the delivery person on the other side.
“Hi,” the man said, holding up a cellophane-wrapped basket. “I have a delivery for Sacha Wilder.”
“I can take that. Thank you.” Gio signed the electronic pad and took the basket. With a wave, the man was off, and Gio closed the door and locked it. He carried the large basket into the kitchen and pursed his lips, Cookie wagging his tail cheerfully beside him. “Hmm. We’re running out of counter space, Cookie Monster.” He looked down at Cookie, who opened his mouth happily, making him chuckle. “Ooh, I think we’ve got just enough room over by the espresso machine.” He squeezed the basket in and planted his hands on his hips. “I have no idea where the next one is going to go, but we’ll figure it out.”
Later that evening, Gio had just finished working and closed his laptop when he realized something.“It’s awfully quiet.” He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Where’s your brother? I know he hasn’t gone upstairs.”
As if conjured by his thoughts, Chip appeared.
Gio sighed and asked the question that he, Sacha, or both of them asked Chip every day. “What do you have in your mouth?” The mischief-maker always found something to make Sacha chase him. “Listen, Daddy can’t chase you around the house until he’s healed, and I’m just not going to do it.” Mainly because there was no catching a giant black rabbit that bounced off anything and everything and ran faster than he did.
Chip side-eyed him, then pranced backward, growling around the object in his mouth. At least it wasn’t moving, since thankfully, Chip no longer chased lizards like he used to.
“Bring it,” Gio said firmly, motioning for Chip to come to him.
Chip promptly ignored him.
“Excuse me, sir.” Gio placed both hands on his hips. He had to bite his bottom lip to stop himself from laughing at Chip’s expression. It was a mix of “Oh, yeah? What are you going to do about it?” and exasperation, like he justcouldn’twith Gio right now—this dog.
Gio stepped forward, and Chip backed up. With a playful growl, he lowered his front half and stuck his butt in the air, tail wagging happily.
“Really?”
Chip hopped again, and Gio sighed. “Fine. Stay.” The moment he got close, Chip was off, hopping, running, zigzagging as if he were trying out for the NFL.
“Oh my god,” Gio laughed. He put on his serious face. “I need to check on your Daddy, so if you don’t mind, bring it here.”
Chip trotted over, but instead of stopping in front of Gio to give him whatever was in his mouth, he pushed into him.What the…?
“Why are you herding me?” Gio asked as Chip kept pushing and maneuvering him. When a herding dog wanted to herd, there was little to stop him, so Gio went along with it. Chip obviously wanted something. He herded Gio to the sliding glass doors that led out onto the patio. “Are you seriously just wanting me to let you outside?” Usually, Chip didn’t herd them for that. If he needed to go potty, he either placed his paw on someone’s lap and stared at them if they were sitting, or barked and ran to the glass doors.
